MARGAO: The National Fishworkers forum, a federation of State levels trade unions in India, in association with Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) organised a public meeting on Saturday against the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification 2019.
The public meeting is a part of a nationwide protest against the notification.
The meeting was addressed by representative of the affected communities, political leaders and opposition MLAs.
GRE General Secretary Olensio Simoes said that the 1991 and 2011 notifications were introduced to restrict development along the coast to protect it from destruction.
“The 2019 notification is completely opposite of the earlier notification. This notification promotes concertisation of the entire sea and river coast of Goa. The notification will destroy the traditional employment along with other employment in tourism sector. Fishermen will commit suicide. Our demand is very clear that 2019 notification has to be withdrawn because Goa is too small and this notification will erode all our beaches,” he said.
Captain Viriato Fernandes of Goencho Awaaz highlighted the romantic relationship that exists between the people of Goa and the Sea.
“I am a tsunami survivor and I know what destruction the sea can do,” he said.
Fernandes said the government has brought several destructive laws such as 16B, TDR and the 2019 CRZ notification and the court is the last resort to fight against these laws.
“But there is a people’s court in two months where the MPs will come with folded hands to ask for votes. We have to pass judgment on them for doing all this,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavelkar said that he had requested the CM not to implement the notification because there were lakhs of objections.
“We told him to see the sentiments of the people but despite that the Goa government supported the notification,” he said.
Kavlekar also informed that the State Congress leaders have informed the central election manifesto committee of the Congress party to include the withdrawal of the CRZ 2019 notification as a important agenda of the manifesto.
GRE President Angelo Rodrigues said that the Modi and Parrikar governments have brought the law to favour Jindal, Adani and other businessmen.
He criticized Churchill Alemao for supporting the notification. He accused Churchill of being a beneficiary of the notification because, he alleged, Churchill brother wanted to construct a bungalow along the beach in Velsao.
He demanded that all the fishermen’s houses should first be regularized before bringing any CRZ law.
Fr Eremito Rebello said that the high tide line keeps changing as the sea level rises.
“The government is become greedy but they should not interfere with the fury of the sea. This notification won’t allow us to move freely on the beach. Right now many hotels have blocked access to the beach. We condemn the actions of the government. Today same people are saying that nationalisation of rivers is good. The elections are coming and the key is in your hands. The only way to protect Goa is that we have to drive out the current government,” he said.
